On the trail: Campaign tips from a serial photographer

Jacques Boissinot has been covering elections for 30 years, and shared a few pointers for politicians and fellow photographers. Captive on Pauline Marois’ campaign bus, touring the Charlevoix Wednesday, the veteran photographer for Presse Canadienne said first of all, politicians should stop eating in front of cameras.
Former Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe, for example, was captured on film eating a strawberry during a campaign stop. It wasn’t pretty, Boissinot said.
But it all began with former Quebec premier Robert Bourassa, who was caught eating a hotdog in the parliamentary cafeteria. Maclean’s (magazine) got the picture, and Bourassa was forever more known as Mangeur de Hot Dog – a nickname given to him by Pierre Elliot Trudeau.
Boissinot also said suggested politicians should stop picking up babies at campaign stops. It can backfire on them if the baby starts screaming. “And why does anyone bring a baby to a political meeting anyway?” Boissinot asked.
As for the photographers covering the Quebec election, Boissinot said they should shoot the candidates while they’re speaking English. Having to search for words makes them a lot more expressive.
And if they want to subtlelly change how the candidate is portrayed, they should pay attention to which way he or she is facing when a photographer takes the picture. Facing toward the left, makes them appear stronger because the viewer looks them in the face. But facing toward the right, makes it look like they are fleeing the frame.

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